The average US household electricity bill is $122/month. Most people pay it without knowing which appliances are responsible. Use our electricity bill calculator to find costs for all your appliances.
How Electricity Costs Are Calculated
Cost = Watts x Hours Used / 1,000 x Rate ($/kWh)
A 1,500W space heater running 6 hours/day at 13c/kWh costs $1.17/day — $35/month. That adds up fast.
The Big 5 — Where Most Bills Come From
| Appliance | Typical Power | Monthly Cost (13c/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC / Heat Pump | 3,000-6,000W | $75-$200+ |
| Electric Water Heater | 4,000-5,500W | $40-$60 |
| Electric Dryer | 4,000-6,000W | $15-$45 |
| Refrigerator | 100-400W (24/7) | $10-$20 |
| Electric Oven/Range | 2,000-5,000W | $10-$30 |
Top 5 Electricity Reductions
1. Thermostat Management
Heating and cooling is 40-50% of the average bill. A programmable thermostat that adjusts while you’re away can save $100-200/year with zero sacrifice.
2. Water Heater Temperature
Default setting is 140F — unnecessary. Reducing to 120F saves 4-22% of water heating cost and is still safe against bacteria.
3. Switch to LED Lighting
LEDs use 75% less electricity than incandescent. 30 bulbs switched saves about $85/year in electricity alone.
4. Cold Water Washing
90% of washing machine energy goes to heating water. Cold water washing uses about 10% of the energy of hot with modern detergents.
5. Phantom Load Elimination
40+ devices in standby consume 5-10% of total electricity (~$100-200/year). Smart plugs eliminate this passively.
Home Budget and Utilities Tracker
Track monthly utility costs, set reduction targets, and see your savings over time.
Get the Budget Tracker →Modern Energy Star units: 100-150W = $10-14/month. Older units (10+ years): 150-400W = $14-38/month. Upgrading a 20-year-old refrigerator pays back in 3-4 years.